Tomb of Ferdowsi (Persian: آرامگاه فردوسی‎) is a tomb complex composed of a white marble base, and a decorative edifice erected in honor of the Persian poet Ferdowsi located in Tus, Iran, in Razavi Khorasan province. It was built in the early 1930s,under the Reza Shah, and uses mainly elements of Achaemenid architecture to demonstrate Iran's rich culture and history. The construction of the mausoleum as well as its aesthetic design is a reflection of the cultural, and geo-political status of Iran at the time.

My last stop on my little trip was Marseille. Managed to walk 71 miles altogether so I think it’s going to be a lazy Sunday ✨

1 515 minutes ago

A casual coffee weekend spent at the workshops-turned-cafes in Bangsar. .
The barbed wire fences and the guard manning the front gate, still provides the former printing factory its heartbeat. 🖤
.
.
.
.

finally i can publicly share the photos of my visit to the world's largest refugee camp in kutupalong, bangladesh!

i'd been putting this entry on hold until i'd safely left bangladesh lest i jeopardize my exit from the country at the immigration checkpoint. as i'd visited the camp without any permit (which i later learnt is a requirement), and even though the ngos had been gracious in receiving me and showing me around, somehow i was spotted by the government officials who then requested for my travel documents (which i didn't want to give) and visiting permit (which i didn't have). after being held for some hard questioning ("are you a journalist?" 😅) for 30 mins, i was eventually let go and told to come back with the necessary permit. phew, that was intense!

now let's talk about this camp. a generous bangladesh hosts more than 1.3 million rohingya refugees who fled the persecution in myanmar within its borders, a humanitarian move that is clearly putting a lot of strain on the existing infrastructure and resources of this densely populated country of 165 million. and out of these 1.3 million refugees, more than half a million are housed right here in kutupalong.

the camp is supported by various ngos and seven international entities (western governments and japan). i was led to camp d5 (said to be the safest to visit), and there i saw clinics, food distribution centres, makeshift stalls, and of course, endless rows of huts resided by the refugees. rationing is in place, and each refugee will get a digitized ration card containing tk 700 (usd 8) every month for the purchase of food and supplies.